I think these two sets of free concerts in Brooklyn have kind of slid in under the summer festival radar, so I figured I would show them a little love. They’re not the hippest acts, but all the shows are free and there’s certainly some stuff worth seeing. Lauryn Hill anyone?

29th Annual Seaside Summer Concert Series
All concerts take place Thursday nights 7:30 pm Asser Levy/Seaside Park at West 5th Street and Surf Avenue in Coney Island/Brighton Beach
07/12/07 – Tommy James & The Shondells, Jay Black, Johnny Maestro
07/19/07 – Billy Ocean, Air Supply w/ Graham Russell
07/26/07 – The Turtles, Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals, The Zombies, Denny Laine (Moody Blues), Melanie, Country Joe McDonald
08/02/07 – Natalie Cole
08/09/07 – The B-52’s, Patty Smyth and Scandal
08/16/07 – Mystery Night (TBA July 27)
08/23/07 – Salsa By The Sea

The 25th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series
All concerts take place Monday nights 7:30 pm Wingate Field at Winthrop Street between Brooklyn and Kingston Avenues
07/09/07 – MC Hammer, Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, MC Lyte
07/16/07 – Fred Hammond, Byron Cage, Vanessa Bell Armstrong
07/23/07 – Boyz II Men, Ruben Studdard
07/30/07 – Mighty Sparrow, Machel Montano, Morgan Heritage
08/06/07 – Lauryn Hill
08/13/07 – Mystery Night (TBA July 27)
08/20/07 – The O’Jays, The Spinners

PS In case you didn’t click on the Lauryn Hill link above, here’s a quote from the article:

How bad was this concert? Well, calling it a fiasco would be an insult to fiascos everywhere. It was so bad that it sent 75 to 100 fans into the lobby only four songs into the set, all of them grumbling loudly and demanding refunds. Those were the smart ones – the rest of us remained in our seats and watched what amounted to a two-hour train wreck. [San Jose Mercury News]